Foot appliance.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

E. S. FARRA.

FOOT APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1903 RENEWED NOV.23, 190s.

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EDWIN S. FARRA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO M. AOHFELDT, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed November 18, 1903, Serial No. 181,650. RenewedNovember 23, 1906.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Serial No. 344,785.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. FARRA, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot Appliances, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foot appliances for use in the treatment of bunions, and its primary object is to provide a simple and. inexpensive buteffective device adapted to be attached to the foot and so constructedand applied as to straighten the toe and thereby reduce the enlargedgreat too joint.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a device of thecharacter named with means whereby it may be conveniently and adjustablysecured to the foot, and around the toes.

The invention comprises a resilient splint or spring adapted forapplication to the inner side of the foot near the great toe, and havinga cup or concave portion to receive the toe joint; a strap of leather orother pliable material adapted to be passed around the foot over theinstep to secure the splint in place; a strap adapted to encircle thegreat toe; and an independent strap adapted to be passed under the greattoe and encircle one of the other toes.

A distinguishing characteristic of the present improvement is that twoindependent straps or bands are provided for the treatment or separationof the great too and second toe, each of said straps being attached atone of its ends to the splint or spring, while its opposite or free endis adapted to be detachably secured to the splint or spring.

The construction of the device will be fully described hereinafter inconnection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of thisspecification, and its novel features will be defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with itsstraps or bands disconnected and depending from the splint ready forapplication to the foot. Fig. 2 shows the device applied to a foot, theupper side or instep of the foot being shown, and Fig. 3 represents thesole of the foot showing the adjustment of the straps.

The reference numeral 1 designates the metallic splint or springenlarged at a point between its ends and hollowed out to form a cup, 2,having an elongated openingg S, to

permit of the protrusion of the great toe joint, as clearly illustratedin Figs. and L). The splint or spring, 1, is provided with a suitablelining, l, of felt or like yielding material. To the rear end. of thespring, 1, is riveted a strap, 5, of leather or other pliable material,both ends of said strap preferably projecting beyond the spring. Theshort end, 6, of the strap, 5, is provided with one member of a catch,preferably a resilient head, 7, while the opposite end of the strap isprovided with a plurality of sockets, 8, thus providing for theadjustability or loosening or tightening of the strap. This strap, 5, isadapted to be passed around the foot, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

To the forward end of the spring is riveted one end of a strap, 9, thefree end of which is provided with a plurality of sockets adapted toreceive the resilient head, 10, projecting from the strap between itsseeming rivets. This strap, 9, is adapted to be passed around the greattoo, l'mming a loop which securely holds the front end. of the spring inposition.

1]. designates a supplemental strap of less width than the strap, 9,and. riveted. to the spring, 1, in rear of said strap, 9.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the strap, 11, is shown as first passing under thegreat too, then encircling the second toe and then again passing underthe great too, after which it is secured by its fastenings.

An important advantage of the improvement is that the straps for bothtoes are secured directly to the spring, and all of the three straps areso secured to the spring as to be in parallel relation.

The ut1lity of the adjustable fastenings of the straps will be apparentand the pliable nature of the straps insures comfort to the wearer.

I would have it understood that the invention comprehends all such minorchanges in the details of construction as may properly fall within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A foot appliance comprising a resilient metallic splint provided witha concave perforated portion, a strap secured to the rear end of saidsplint and two straps of different 7 widths secured to the forwardportion of the splint, one of the latter straps adapted to encircle thegreat toe, and the other adapted to encircle one of the other toes, allof said straps having a plurality of fastening devices to permit of theloosening or the fastening for said splint, a strap at the rear end ofthe 5 thereof. splint adapted to pass over the instep; a

2. A foot appliance comprising a resilient strap secured at one end tothe forward end metallic splint provided with a concave perof the splintto encircle the great toe; and a forated portion, a strap secured to therear third strap of less width than the great toe end of said splint andtwo straps ofdifferent strap secured at one end to the splint and 2widths secured to the forward portion of the adapted to pass over thegreat and second splint, one of the latter straps adapted to pass toes.below the great toe and the other adapted In testimony whereof I affixmy signature to pass below the great toe and encircle the in presence oftwo witnesses.

second toe. EDVIN S. FARRA.

3. A foot appliance comprising a resilient Witnesses: metallic splinthaving a cup or concavity at BEATRIX HIRsonFELD,

a point between its ends; a yielding lining CLAUDE AOFIELD.

